Mayor’s Development Roundtable to focus on future housing and “Central Park” development

(April 22, 2008) - Developers, contractors, design professionals and government leaders interested in learning about future housing demand and the development of a Central Park-like space in downtown Oklahoma City can register now through May 12 for the seventh annual Mayor's Development Roundtable.  The Roundtable will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 14 at the Cox Business Services Convention Center.

Real estate market expert Laurie Volk will kick off the event with a session called “Changing Markets and the New Housing Paradigm.”  Volk is co-director of Zimmerman/Volk Associates, a New Jersey-based market research firm specializing in urban development and redevelopment.

The second session will feature Peter Harnik, director of the Center for City Park Excellence for the Trust for Public Land in Washington, D.C.  Harnik, who is the author of Inside City Parks, a book about the park system in the 25 largest cities in the U.S. and The Excellent City Park System:  What Makes it Great and How to Get There, will discuss development opportunities related to a proposed park in downtown Oklahoma City.

Mayor Cornett will facilitate roundtable discussion with speakers, attendees and local experts after each session.  The Mayor will close the conference by presenting an Award for Outstanding Development in Oklahoma City.

Registration is $65 and includes breakfast and lunch.  Register online by May 12 at www.okc.gov/planning/roundtable.